Dynamics of religious tolerance in Indonesia

Safeí, Agus Ahmad (2012) Dynamics of religious tolerance in Indonesia. Athens Institute for Education and Research, 0082. pp. 1-14. ISSN 2241-2891

Preview

Text (Full Text) PAPER_ATINER_ATHENA_2012.pdf Download (418kB) | Preview

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explain the dynamics of religious tolerance that occurred in Indonesia, especially in the last decade. Indonesia is indeed one of the most pluralistic societies in terms of ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and religious diversity, in which people from various backgrounds of tribe, race, and religion live together. In terms of religion, there exist in this country the great world religions, namely Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Kong Hu Chu. With a majority Muslim population, Indonesia is also known widely as the largest Muslim country in the world. Historically, the complexity of religious identity can bring harmony. In fact, with a diverse character, Indonesia is known as a model of a tolerant country where people from different religious backgrounds can live together in harmony. In this context, Indonesia has a very popular slogan, namely “Bhineka Tunggal Ika” (Unity in Diversity). Sociologically, the relationship among religious believers full of dynamics, sometimes full of accommodations that create an atmosphere of harmony and sometimes full of confrontations that lead to disharmony. The pattern of accommodative relationship occurs when the followers of different religions emphasizes tolerance. While the emergence of a confrontational relationship due to internal factors of the religious community itself, such a narrow understanding of religious, exclusive, self-righteous, but is also influenced by external factors, such as economic inequalities and the existence of provocation from the outside. This then causes the various nuances of religious conflicts in Indonesia. Ethnic and religious diversity, on the one hand, it can be a valuable capital for the establishment of tolerance is strong, but on the other hand has tremendous potential for conflict. Potential conflicts among ethnic and religious communities are still quite open. Thus the fact then raises a new problem of the dialectical relationship among religious and sometimes problematic. The problem was indeed a wedge that is long enough, especially in a plural society like Indonesia.

Actions (login required)

View Item